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Articles / Government / White House Trump to make upgrades to White House, the first of this century The Rose Garden renovation and new large-capacity ballroom will completely transform public events at the White House. By: During his first term in office and thus far in his second term, President Donald Trump, a builder-at-heart, has set forth in motion some of the most significant upgrades to the White House in decades. “He’s more well-qualified than any other president, save for Thomas Jefferson, who built Monticello. He was a builder as well,” presidential historian and author Craig Shirley told Just The News. “The improvements to the White House over the last 250 years…the White House is a metaphor for America. The White House is changing and improving over these 250 years.”  Reflecting on the connection between the nation’s transformations throughout history and the White House, Shirley said, “Whether it’s Manifest destiny or the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, Civil Rights or the space race, breakthroughs in science and medicine….technology….all these improvements, the White House has kept pace with its own improvements.”  Last week, the Trump administration announced in a press release that the White House would soon begin construction on a large ballroom on the property to accommodate more guests at state functions.  “The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance,” the administration said. 90,000 square feet, and room for 450 more guests “The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House,” it went on. When the White House hosts large events, the organizers are forced to choose between installing white tents on the South Lawn, or hosting the event off of the White House grounds. At the height of seasons when Washington, D.C. summer days approach 100° and winter nights hover around freezing, the South Lawn isn’t a suitable option. “The Kremlin has big rooms for big receptions, Buckingham Palace has big rooms for big receptions, but the leader of the free world doesn’t have an adequate room for big events and state dinners,” Shirley said. Prior renovations and history The ballroom will augment the East Wing of the White House property, which was rebuilt in 1902, a significant renovation led by President Theodore Roosevelt. In that transformation, the White House underwent alterations into a more modern and functional space. This project, carried out by the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, included the construction of a new West Wing to house the President’s offices, relocating them from the second floor of the main residence. The renovation also modernized the interior and created more space for the President’s family and staff.   Roosevelt’s renovation was not the first time that the White House had been reconstructed. On August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812 between the United States and England, British troops entered Washington, D.C. and burnt the White House in retaliation for the American attack on the city of York in Ontario, Canada.  According to History.com, “When the British arrived at the White House, they found that President James Madison and his first lady Dolley had already fled to safety in Maryland. Soldiers reportedly sat down to eat a meal made of leftover food from the White House scullery using White House dishes and silver before ransacking the presidential mansion and setting it ablaze.”  It was not until 1817 that President James Monroe moved back into the reconstructed building. Critics politicize the modernization of “The People’s House” The new White House projects have drawn a fair amount of criticism, with Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, R-N.Y., taking swipes about the expenditure, failing to note that Trump and private donors will be footing most of the renovation bill.  Although ignored by Democrats eager to attack Trump on any matter, presidential historian Shirley noted the renovation’s long-term usefulness, telling Just The News that “Future presidents who are Democrats are going to use the ballroom too.” Additionally, the iconic Rose Garden, which is just off the east side of the Oval Office, is currently under renovation. The most significant change will be that the grass is being replaced by concrete slabs, which are much more suitable than grass for supporting women in high heels. The new additions and augmentations will not be solely on the taxpayers’ dime. On Wednesday, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that his first paycheck would be going to the project: “My first “Paycheck” went to the White House Historical Association, as we make much-needed renovations to the beautiful “People’s House.” Great improvements and beautification are taking place at the White House, at levels not seen since its original creation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Since its construction in the late 1700s, each president has left a small imprint on the White House, but none as drastic as Trump in recent years. Former President George W. Bush made some technological upgrades. During the Bush administration, the White House adopted sustainable technology by installing three solar energy systems on its grounds in 2002. His presidency also enhanced e-government efforts, leveraging information technology to streamline and improve access to government services. During former President Barack Obama’s eight years, some small changes were made. Shortly after taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama had the White House tennis court on the South Lawn transformed by adding basketball lines and removable baskets to allow for full-court basketball games. This modification enabled him to play pickup games with staff, friends, and NBA stars, including a notable game for his 50th birthday in 2011 featuring players like LeBron James and Magic Johnson. During her tenure as First Lady, Michelle Obama promoted healthy lifestyles and nutrition for children. She launched the “Let’s Move!” initiative to

Articles / Government / White House Trump 2.0 White House hones messaging to challenge false stories, engage pop culture When faced with backlash by liberals, the new corporate policy seems to be, “no apology necessary.” By: There’s a notable and often youthful tone to the White House’s messaging on social media. During President Trump’s second term, his communications staff is focusing on countering misinformation from mainstream media and Democrats by utilizing the cultural zeitgeist to rally support for Trump’s policies. The frequent posts indicate a shift towards a bold, and often meme-centric, social media approach during Trump’s second term, sharply contrasting with the more reserved style of previous administrations, including his own first term. What initially seemed brash is now mainstream, allowing companies to go back to reliable forms of marketing: hot people selling products, without having to apologize.  Border hoaxes exposed The Department of Homeland Security has been very quick to dispel rumors that have gone viral on social media. A preponderance of these viral videos and memes are spreading disinformation and hoaxes that lead to fear and misconceptions about the department’s operations. On Sunday, the department posted a video on its X account in which it corrected the record first on, as Deputy Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis referred to it, the “Taco Bell Hoax.”  In July, a viral hoax spread via TikTok when immigration lawyer Trisha Chatterjee falsely claimed an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officer provided her with a Taco Bell phone number instead of the correct phone number providing assistance for her detained clients.  The Department of Homeland Security quickly debunked the story, labeling it a fabrication and confirming no such interaction occurred. DHS confirmed that she was provided multiple avenues to directly contact ICE to resolve any issues, but the lawyer made no attempt to contact the agency. Chatterjee, however, has since insisted that the incident was real, claiming it must have been a prank by an ICE officer. DHS’ Bis also addressed a viral video that asserts a conspiracy that Home Depot has a contract with DHS. In the video, Bis clarifies, “DH does not have a contract with Home Depot, and we certainly don’t notify businesses of targeted enforcement operations.” “This ridiculous claim is just another attempt to smear our brave ICE law enforcement, who are already facing an 830% increase in assaults against them.”  Bis also addressed members of Congress representing sanctuary cities across the country, who claimed they were denied entry into a Baltimore ICE facility. “This is outrageous. Here are the facts. If these members wanted a photo op with the criminal illegal aliens they support, they could have just scheduled a tour,” Bis said.  Culture-injected Border Patrol recruitment  Last week, the liberal social media universe sank even lower than usual, distributing videos describing American Eagle’s new ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney as “Nazi sh*t,” pushing eugenics in favor of white people, and glorified whiteness.  In the ad, Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.” A narrator then says, “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection immediately jumped on the cultural hype and put out a recruitment video with a deep-voiced narrator who says, “Our horse patrol unit has great genes. Genes that can stand up to the most rugged rides. It’s not just what we wear every day. It’s in our DNA.” The Department of Defense also tapped into the hype with their own timely X post featuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The post features a photo of Hegseth exiting a DOD aircraft wearing a blue blazer and jeans with the caption “@secdef [Hegseth] has great jeans.” White House capitalizing on culture  It’s not just federal agencies who are capitalizing on culture and the media; the White House itself is also getting in on the fun.  Last week, Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools, a program originally introduced in 1966 and phased out in 2012 under the Obama administration. The test, which includes exercises like a one-mile run, sit-ups, and pull-ups, aims to address concerns about childhood obesity and promote a culture of physical fitness, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overseeing its implementation.  High-profile figures from the sports world appeared in the Oval Office, including professional golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Annika Sorenstam, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and WWE legend, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Capitalizing further on the cultural momentum, the White House released a video featuring Paul “Triple H” Levesque performing his signature water-spitting fight entrance outside the White House, captioned “ARE YOU READY… TO MAKE AMERICA FIT AGAIN,” and set to his theme song “The Game.”  In another nod to pop culture, following Trump’s trip to the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit in June, Secretary-General Mark Rutte referred to President Donald Trump as “daddy” in a lighthearted remark, responding to Trump’s analogy of Israel and Iran as fighting children by saying, “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”  Rutte later clarified he was not directly calling Trump “daddy” but using a metaphor for America’s role in NATO. However, the White House ran with it and posted a montage video of Trump’s NATO trip set to Usher’s 2010 song “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” captioned with lyrics “Daddy’s home… Hey, hey, hey, Daddy,” playfully referencing Rutte’s earlier “daddy” comment. Resulting cultural shift: “Being WOKE is for losers” Following Sweeney’s ad and the resulting backlash, one might have expected an apology from the company, American Eagle. However, not only did their subsequent statement on the frenzy not contain an apology, they upped their ad game and bought space on a wrap-around video billboard in Times’ Square featuring the ad campaign.  On Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social account, “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the “HOTTEST” ad out there…the jeans are “flying off the shelves.” Go get ‘em Sydney!…Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be.” Following the post American Eagle’s stock soared 25%.  Dunkin’ Donuts was part of the Sweeney tide’s ripple. The famous donut and coffee establishment

Articles / Government / White House Trump GDP, tariffs and inflation data defy doomsday predictions as critics soften Results of economic indices: Despite relentless skepticism, Trump’s economic policies are driving growth and winning over critics. By: The last few days mark a monumental “I told you so” moment for President Donald Trump’s economic policies. Surpassing expectations in consumer confidence, jobs, inflation, GDP and trade agreements, even some of Trump’s most virulent critics are reconsidering their hot takes. Revenues from tariffs hit $150 billion on Tuesday, sparking legislation by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. He introduced the “American Worker Rebate Act,” which would issue $600 rebate checks to eligible Americans, including their children, to offset any costs associated with higher prices caused by the tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently estimated that tariff revenue could hit $300 billion by the end of the year and Trump expounded on the success of the tariffs when he told Just The News, “We’re taking in tremendous amounts of money. You saw that we had a $25 billion surplus last month. And the tariffs haven’t really started by comparison to what they will be. We’re doing them on cars right now, cars and steel, mostly, but the other ones kick in on August 1, and they’re very substantial.” Other nations that could be announcing trade deals with the United States include India and Vietnam. Trade deals happening Trump has now brokered important trade agreements with the United Kingdom, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and as of today, South Korea. However, the European Union trade agreement might be the most significant deal yet. Shanker Singham, who served as a cleared advisor to the United States Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce, spoke to Just The News about its importance. “Why the EU is significant is, it has been very, very difficult for the U.S. and the E.U. to agree on anything in the area of trade for decades,” he said. “There have been lots of attempts to do Trans-Atlantic Trade Agreements, to do the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. None of it has worked over the last 25 years. This is the first time that there’s been a deal of any kind, really, of this kind of level between the US and the EU,” Shanker continued. Consumer confidence rises The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose 2.0 points to 97.2 in July, exceeding economists’ expectations of 95.4, driven by a 4.5-point increase in the Expectations Index to 74.4. Despite doomsday rhetoric by Democrats, the new figures signal a decrease in pessimism about future economic conditions. Factors like expectations of business conditions, current conditions, expectations for employment and expectations for family income are factored into the index. GDP up by 3% The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.0% in Q2 2025, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, defying critics who predicted a slowdown due to President Trump’s tariff policies and global trade tensions. This growth, which was a sharp rebound from the alarming -0.5% contraction in Q1 2025, exceeded expectations of around 2% from sources like Investing.com, suggesting it was driven by a significant decrease in imports and a surge in consumer spending. Despite warnings from economists and business leaders about potential GDP shocks from tariffs, the economy’s resilience—bolstered by strong labor markets and consumer confidence—has contradicted forecasts of stagnation, with the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model aligning closely at 2.9%. An obstinate Fed’s refusal to adjust rates  Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced Wednesday that interest rates would remain at 4.50%, despite optimistic economic factors. “My colleagues and I remain squarely focused on achieving our dual mandate goals of maximum employment and stable prices for the benefit of the American people,” Powell said during a press conference. Powell has long held that his decision not to lower interest rates is out of an abundance of caution: “Despite elevated uncertainty, the economy is in a solid position, the unemployment rate remains low, and the labor market is at or near maximum employment. Inflation has been running somewhat above our 2% longer-run objective.” Trump criticized the decision Wednesday, telling the press, “Each point costs us $365 billion. We could save $365 billion. He’s done a bad job.” Critics soften, reconsider Comedian and talk-show host Bill Maher first hoped for a recession to hurt Trump’s reelection in 2020 and then again in April to change Trump’s tariff policies. He also declared that Trump’s tariffs are “a** backwards” and would “tank” the economy by Independence Day. Maher, like others, is now singing a very different tune. “The truth is, I don’t know what his strategy is. But look, the stock market is at record highs. I know not everybody lives by the stock market, but I also drive around,” he said on his Club Random podcast. “I don’t see a country in a depression at all. I see people out there just living their lives. And I would have thought — and I gotta own it — that these tariffs were going to f*cking sink this economy by this time — and they didn’t.” Kenneth Langone, billionaire and Home Depot co-founder, expressed reconsideration as well. Just months ago, Langone called tariffs “bullsh*t.” After Trump’s string of economic successes, Langone was unambiguous when he admitted he was wrong. The influential businessman told CNBC’s Squawk Box in July, “Look, let me tell you right now, I am sold on Trump. In fact, I’ll say this: I think he’s got a good shot at going down in history as one of our best presidents ever.” TOP STORIES Critical Condition: America faces a supply chain crisis for basic drugs, and Trump wants to fix it Trump GDP, tariffs and inflation data defy doomsday predictions as critics soften Biden’s unconstitutional free ride for student loan borrowers ends August 1 Hoaxes about ICE ‘disappearing’ illegals are widespread, as disinformation seeps into the news US Olympic Committee bends to Trump, bars trans athletes from women’s competition LATEST EPISODES Exposing the truth on foreign owned farmland, Russiagate, and school choice in order to rebuild America From Crisis to Control: How a broken VA is now harnessing patient‑generated data to tackle diabetes Medicare is a ‘ponzi scheme,’ Twila Brase exposes HIPPA lies, DNA harvesting & the war on medical